Preferred Citation

Acquisition Information

Charles Lee was born in 1731 in Dernhall, Cheshire,
England, to John Lee and Isabella Bunbury Lee. He attended
school at Bury St. Edmunds and in Switzerland. In 1747, he was
an ensign in the British army and in 1751, appointed a
lieutenant in the 44th Regiment. He served in the British army
during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War), seeing
action during Braddock's expedition in 1755, and being wounded
at Ticonderoga in 1758. He returned from his wounds to
participate in the capture of Fort Niagra. In August 1761, Lee
was appointed major in the 103rd Regiment and served in a
British expedition to Portugal, where he was promoted to
lieutenant colonel. After the war ended, the 103rd was
disbanded and Lee was put on half-pay. He served in the Polish
army in 1765-1766 and fought with the Russian army in
1769-1770. Lee emigrated to America in 1773 and settled in
Berkeley County, (West) Virginia. When the American Revolution
began, Lee was appointed a major general. After serving with
the army and under George Washington in New England and New
York, Lee was dispatched by Congress to command southern
forces in the defense of Charles Town, South Carolina, in the
Spring of 1776. After Charles Town was successfully defended
from the British, Lee returned to the northern army. Lee was
captured by the British in December 1776. During his
imprisonment, Lee may have given "aid and comfort" to the
British. Exchanged in 1778, Lee rejoined the Continental army.
His subsequent actions at the battle of Monmouth led to a
court of inquiry and suspension from the army for twelve
months. Lee was dismissed from army by Congress in 1780. He
retired to his estate in Berkeley County. Lee died in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2 October 1782, and was buried in
Christ Church.

Letters, 1759-1782, to Charles Lee (1731-1782) of England
and Berkeley County, (West) Virginia, discussing the Seven
Years' War and campaigning in Canada; St. John's Island
(Prince Edward Island) in Canada; conditions in Bermuda; the
military situation in Virginia during the American Revolution;
politics in the Continental Congress and in the Continental
Army; Lee's horses; and business and personal matters. Of
particular interest are: a letter, 28 November 1759, from Sir
William Bunbury concerning the British campaign in Canada; a
land grant, 3 December 1766, for 20,000 acres in East Florida
from the British government to Lee; a letter, 10 November
1772, from Walter Patterson (1742-1798), governor of St.
John's Island; a letter, 1 July 1774, from Thomas Gamble
concerning the British Army and Boston, Massachusetts; a
letter, 6 May 1776, from James Hendricks concerning movements
of British ships near Hampton, Virginia; a letter, 13 August
1776, from General Andrew Lewis (1720-1781) detailing the
military situation in Virginia; a letter, 24 August 1779, from
John S. Eustace (d. 1805) concerning army politics; a letter,
16 March 1780, from Thomas Mifflin (1744-1800) concerning
politics in Congress; and notes by Lee on politics and
speculation. Other correspondents include Thomas Baldwin,
Charles Carroll (1737-1832), Sidney Lee (Lee's sister), Edmund
Pendleton (1721-1803), Matthew Powell, John Hill Stevenson, C.
M. Thurston, and Thomas Totty.